Gripping device for assisting infants in holding a bottle

ABSTRACT

A gripping device for assisting infants in holding a bottle which comprises a body fabricated from a soft material, wherein the shape of the body is substantially triangular, substantially circular, substantially rectangular or substantially square, an opening extending through the body, the opening being sized and shaped to accept a bottle inserted therein, and a securing device associated with the opening for securing the bottle in the opening. Moreover, the opening may be located in approximately the center of the body. The securing device, such as an elastic band, a spring, velcro, or a draw string, lines the opening whereby inserting a bottle into the opening results in the securing device fitting snuggly around the peripheral surface of a bottle. The securing device can accommodate a wide range of commercially available bottles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for assisting in the feeding of infants, and more particularly to a device attachable to a feeding bottle that facilitates an infant holding the bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are devices known in the art that pertain to assisting in the nursing process. Generally, such devices have sought to amuse the child for a sufficient period of time in order to complete the feeding process, to allow the child to independently support the bottle so that the parent or attending person has both hands free to perform other tasks, and to support the bottle in a position to aid in filling the bottle with liquid.

[0003] It is generally known that the hands of infants are too small to firmly grip a conventional feeding bottle, i.e., a generally cylindrical bottle having a nipple end and a base end. In addition, infants often lack the physical coordination and strength to hold feeding bottles. Thus, devices have sought to find ways to enable an infant to independently hold and support a feeding bottle and feed while the parent or person attending the infant may have both hands free to perform other tasks. One way to accomplish this is to design the body of a feeding bottle to conform to the infant's hand size, thus facilitating gripping. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,808 to Campbell et al. describes a bottle wherein the circumference of the body is sufficiently small for the infant to grasp. In one embodiment of the invention, the bottle comprises an elongated opening extending through the body of the bottle, providing oppositely spaced hollow portions having a circumference small enough for the hands of an infant to encircle. The object of this device is to allow an infant to independently support the bottle during feeding without the assistance of the parent or attending person.

[0004] Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,338 to Sandhu relates to a feeding bottle formed symmetrically about a longitudinal axis and includes a central hollow portion. Projecting from sidewalls of the central portion are outwardly extending handles that are spaced from the side of the central hollow to provide an opening through which the fingers of an infant may extend to curl around the handle and grasp and hold the bottle during feeding. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,017 to Ennis discloses a holder fabricated from a flexible material that aids an infant in grasping a feeding bottle. The holder is of a unitary design with diametrically opposed handles and an intermediate central portion capable of conforming to the shape of a bottle.

[0005] Other devices are known to independently support the feeding bottle in a freestanding position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,192 to Oktayuren discloses a baby bottle holder that is capable of being securely positioned onto the bottle such that the nipple end of the bottle is near the infant's mouth. The holder is constructed and balanced in such a manner that the holder is freestanding regardless of whether a bottle is attached to the holder. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 2,451,846 to Love et al. discloses a cushion-like bottle attachment having an opening through which a bottle may be easily inserted and supported at an angle that is conducive to permit the free flow of contents during the feeding of an infant. Further, the device may be shaped to simulate an animal for amusing the infant during the feeding process.

[0006] Some devices are used solely to amuse the infant, i.e., the parent or attendant must still support the bottle while the device amuses the infant in order to facilitate feeding. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 322,128 to Martinez, Jr. relates to such a bottle holder that is shaped to simulate a teddy bear having an opening located in the center of the teddy bear to conform to the shape of the bottle. Similarly, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 321,938 to Burt relates to a bottle holder in the shape of a clown that fits over a feeding bottle.

[0007] Still other devices in the art enable the infant to independently support the feeding bottle while amusing the infant during feeding. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,843 to James discloses a holder for a generally cylindrical bottle comprising a plush three-dimensional body suitable for amusing an infant, e.g., a bear or other animal. The body has a generally circular opening located proximately in the center of the body sized for receiving a bottle of a generally cylindrical shape having a nipple end and a base end.

[0008] In contrast, the present invention is directed to enable the infant to support bottles of varying size, shape, and circumference. In the preferred embodiment the invention has a shape, color and texture that will be attractive to an infant. Moreover, the present invention can support the bottle so that the nipple end of the bottle extends upwards when not in use. In one embodiment the invention may also include an infant amusement feature, such as a rattle attached to the body.

[0009] It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a bottle holding device that assists in feeding infants. It is a more particular object of the present invention to assist in feeding infants through a gripping device that enables an infant to hold and support a bottle while feeding.

[0010] Another objective of this invention is to provide a way in which the infant can practice an ergonomically correct motion that will later be used when feeding independently. This may facilitate earlier bottle feeding.

[0011] Another object of this invention is to provide a gripping device that is capable of holding and supporting both conventional feeding bottles and bottles of varying cross-sectional area.

[0012] Another object of some embodiments of this invention is to provide an infant amusement feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention is a device for assisting an infant in holding a bottle and/or body and feeding itself. The bottle body forms a three-dimensional figure suitable for grasping by an infant while the infant is feeding. An opening extends completely through the body. A securing device, such as an elastic band, a spring, velcro, or a draw string, lines the opening of the body whereby bottles of many different cross-sectional areas may be inserted into the opening and gripped firmly in place. Moreover, the gripping device of the present invention is able to support the feeding bottle in a freestanding manner in order to prevent the bottle from tipping over.

[0014] In one form of the invention, a rattle, noise maker, or bell may be attached or sewn into the body.

[0015] In another form of the invention, at lease one appendage extends outward from the body for facilitating an infant to grasp the body.

[0016] In yet another form of the invention, the appendages are attached to the periphery of the body.

[0017] In another form of the invention, the shape of the body is substantially triangular, substantially circular, substantially rectangular, or substantially square. The body may be comprised of a soft textile material.

[0018] In another form of the invention, the opening is located approximately in the center of the body.

[0019] In another form of the invention, the body is packed with a material filler. Additionally, the filler may be a soft compressible material.

[0020] In yet another form, the securing device comprises an elastic band surrounding the perimeter of the opening.

[0021] In a preferred form of the invention, the gripping device comprises a substantially triangular body fabricated from a soft plush material packed with a compressible material filler and an opening located approximately in the center of the body and extending through the body. The opening is sized and shaped to accept a bottle inserted therein. An elastic band lines the opening whereby inserting a bottle into the opening results in the elastic band fitting snuggly around the peripheral surface of the bottle at a selected position along the length of the bottle.

[0022] Additionally, a rattle is associated with the body. At least one appendage extends outwardly from the body for facilitating an infant to hold the gripping device, wherein the appendages are attached to the periphery of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a device for receiving and holding a baby bottle in accordance with the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention taken along the X-axis with a conventional feeding bottle inserted through the opening FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a side view showing the present invention being used by an infant holding the appendages of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 5 is a side view showing the present invention in use by an infant holding the body of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] There is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 a form of a gripping device 10 for assisting infants in holding a bottle that is presently preferred. The gripping device 10 may be used with any conventional feeding bottle or any non-conventional feeding bottle 100 of varying size, shape, circumference, or cross-sectional area. The bottle 100 has a nipple end 102 and base end 104. Typically, conventional feeding bottles have a generally cylindrical or annular shape, or a hexagonal shape in cross-section. The present device, however, can accommodate feeding bottles of any size or cross-sectional area 106, as long as the bottle can be held by the securing device 16, such as an elastic band, a spring, velcro, a draw string, or the like.

[0028] In use, the bottle 100 is held in place and can be firmly gripped by the securing device 16 by inserting the bottle 100 into an opening 18 formed in the body 20 of the gripping device 10. The opening 18 extends completely through the body 20 from the front wall 14 to the rear wall 12. In the preferred embodiment, the opening 18 is located in the substantial center of the body 20. However, the opening 18 may be located elsewhere in the body 20 so long as the body 20 can provide support for the feeding bottle 100 and the infant can readily grasp the body 20 of the gripping device, as best seen in FIG. 5, thereby providing independent support for the bottle during a feeding process.

[0029] In the preferred embodiment, the opening 18 is located proximately in the center of the body. The opening 18 includes a securing device 16 whereby inserting a feeding bottle into the opening results in the securing device 16 fitting snuggly around the peripheral surface of the bottle 100 at any specified position along the length of the bottle 100 in order to fixedly secure the body 20 on the bottle. While in the preferred embodiment the securing device 16 is an elastic band, the securing device 16 may be a draw string lining the inside of the body 20 along the opening 18, a spring, hook and loop fastener, fabric tie, or the like, whereby the bottle 100 is held firmly in place.

[0030] Preferably, the opening 18 is about 1.5 inches in diameter. This size opening has been found to accommodate a wide range of commercially available baby bottles. The opening 18 extends through the entire body 20, from its front wall 14 to the rear wall 12 to accommodate the insertion of the bottles therein such that both the nipple end 102 and base end 104 of the bottle 100 extend outwardly from the opposing front 14 and back 12 walls of the body 20.

[0031] In an alternate embodiment, FIG. 4, two diametrically opposed appendages 22 are attached to the exterior of the body 20. These appendages 22 constitute an additional hand-hold for the infant other than the body 20.

[0032] Referring back again to FIG. 1, the body 20 may be formed into in any suitable geometric shape. For example, the body 20 may be in the general shape of a triangle, rectangle, square, circle or any combination thereof. Additionally, the diametrically opposed appendages 22 may be in the general shape of a triangle, rectangle, square, circle or any combination thereof so long as the appendages present a suitable surface to facilitate the grasp of a feeding infant.

[0033] In the preferred embodiment, a rattle, shaker, bell or any suitable noise-maker 24 may be attached or sewn inside the body, providing amusement for the infant. While a rattle is sewn inside the body in the preferred embodiment, a rattle or noisemaker 24 may also be attached to the peripheral surface of the body 20. For example, a rattle or noise-maker 24 may be freely detachable from the peripheral surface such that detaching the rattle facilitates the cleaning of the body 20.

[0034] The body 20 of the present device may be fabricated of any suitable material and is not limited to a particular composition. For example, the body 20 may be fabricated of a textile material, such as cotton, a hard or soft plastic, a hard or soft rubber, any man-made material (such as polyester, nylon, rayon, etc.), a textured fabric, or the like. Preferably, suitable materials would be durable, easily cleaned, soft and pleasing to an infant, and non-toxic. However, in the preferred embodiment the material composing the body is made from a textured cotton.

[0035] The body 20 may be packed with an appropriate filler. Such filler may be composed of a natural fiber, such as cotton, or man-made filler, such as foam rubber, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the filler is a soft, compressible material that is non-toxic from the viewpoint of infant safety.

[0036] The body 20 may be of any size, so long as it is capable of accommodating bottles of various sizes and shapes in use today of supporting the bottle 100. In the preferred embodiment, the body 20 generally has a measurement from the center of the opening 18 to a tip on the substantially triangular shaped body 20 of about 4 inches and a body thickness of about 1.5 inches. Bodies of this size are advantageous as they are sufficiently large to provide good support for the bottle and yet are not too large to prevent the infant from grasping the body 20 or appendages 22.

[0037] When the bottle 100 is inserted into the opening 18 in this manner, the securing device 16 fits snuggly around the peripheral surface of the bottle 100 and secures the body 20 to the bottle 100. The present design allows the baby to hold the bottle 100 at any selected position along the length of the bottle 100. This also permits a desired portion of the nipple end 102 of the bottle 100 to extend beyond the body 20. The securing device 16 is advantageous because the securing device, such as an elastic band, can accommodate and fit snugly around both conventional feeding bottles, e.g., generally cylindrical bottles having a nipple end and a base end, as well as non-conventional bottles with varying cross-sectional areas such as the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,808 to Campbell et al. Thus, the present device is adapted for use with a wide range of sizes of bottles and for use with bottles having a different shape in cross-sections such as circular, square, triangular, rectangular, etc.

[0038] Additionally, the present device allows the infant to feed without the aid of an adult because the infant can independently support the bottle 100 through grasping of the body 20 or the appendages 22. The present device also provides for a rattle 24 to amuse the infant while feeding independently or otherwise. In the preferred embodiment the body 20 has a triangular shape. This shape has the advantage of placing the infant's arms in a comfortable position.

[0039] The arms are placed in an ergonomically correct position to allow the infant to successfully bring the bottle to and from the mouth. The infant can therefore independently feed itself with this device. This motion is the same motion that the infant will require later when using only a bottle. Therefore this device also serves as a way for the infant to practice a skill towards independent feeding.

[0040] The device of the present invention may be used with conventional and unconventional infant feeding bottles and the infant may be fed in the same manner as with any other feeding bottle. For example, the bottle 100 should be filled with infant formula or the like, inserted through the opening 18 in the body 20, and then fed to the infant in the usual manner (i.e., a caregiver holding the bottle).

[0041] Moreover, when feeding is complete and the gripping device 10 having the bottle 100 inserted in the opening 18 is placed down on a table or the like with the base 104 of the bottle 100 in an upright position, the present device provides added support for the bottle 100. In particular, when the device and bottle 100 are placed down, the nipple end 102 of the bottle 100 will extend through the opening 18 of the body 20 in an upward direction. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of convenience when filling the bottle and for preventing the bottle from tipping over. This positioning of the bottle also aids in the filling of the bottle.

[0042] While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gripping device for a baby bottle comprising: a body fabricated from a soft material, an opening extending through the body, the opening being sized and shaped to accept a bottle inserted therein; and a securing device associated with the opening for securing the bottle in the opening.
 2. The gripping device according to claim 1, further comprising a rattle associated with the body.
 3. The gripping device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one appendage extending outwardly from the body for facilitating an infant to grasp the gripping device.
 4. The gripping device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one appendage comprises two appendages.
 5. The gripping device according to claim 3, wherein the appendages are attached to the periphery of the body.
 6. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the body is substantially triangular, substantially circular, substantially rectangular, or substantially square.
 7. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is located approximately in the center of the body.
 8. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein the body is packed with a material filler.
 9. The gripping device according to claim 8, wherein the filler is a soft compressible material.
 10. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a soft textile material.
 11. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein the securing device is an elastic band, a fabric tie, a spring, or a hook and loop fastener.
 12. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein the securing device comprises an elastic band surrounding the perimeter of the opening.
 13. A gripping device for a baby bottle comprising: a body fabricated from a soft material packed with a material filler, an opening extending through the body, the opening being sized and shaped to accept a bottle inserted therein; and a securing device associated with the opening for fitting snuggly around the peripheral surface of the bottle at a selected position along the length of the bottle.
 14. The gripping device according to claim 13, further comprising a rattle associated with the body.
 15. The gripping device according to claim 13, further comprising at least one appendage extending outwardly from the body for facilitating an infant to grasp the gripping device.
 16. The gripping device according to claim 15, wherein the at least on appendage comprises two appendages.
 17. The gripping device according to claim 15, wherein the appendages are attached to the periphery of the body.
 18. The gripping device according to claim 13, wherein the shape of the body is substantially triangular, substantially circular, substantially rectangular, or substantially square.
 19. The gripping device according to claim 13, wherein the opening is located approximately in the center of the body.
 20. The gripping device according to claim 13, wherein the filler is a soft compressible material.
 21. The gripping device according to claim 13, wherein the body comprises a soft textile material.
 22. The gripping device of claim 13, wherein the securing device is an elastic band, a fabric tie, a spring, or a hook and loop fastener.
 23. The gripping device of claim 13, wherein the securing device comprises an elastic band surrounding the perimeter of the opening.
 24. A gripping device for a baby bottle comprising: a substantially triangular body fabricated from a soft plush material packed with a soft compressible material filler, an opening located approximately in the center of the body and extending through the body, the opening being sized and shaped to accept a bottle inserted therein; and an elastic band lining the opening whereby inserting a bottle into the opening results in the elastic band fitting snuggly around the peripheral surface of the bottle at a selected position along the length of the bottle; a rattle associated with the body; and two appendages extending outwardly from the body for facilitating an infant to hold the gripping device, wherein the appendages are attached to the periphery of the body. 